Chapter 34

LAST BATTLES,

AUGUST TO DECEMBER, 1918.

German retreat from the Lys.--Orderly Room and its staff.--The new devastated area.--Itchin Farm, Merville and Neuf Berquin.--Mines and booby-traps.--Advance to the Lys.--Estaires destroyed.-- Laventie revisited.--The attack on Junction Post.--Lance-Corporal Wilcox, V.C.--Scavenging at the XI Corps school.--On the Aubers ridge.--The end in sight.--Move to Cambrai.--In action near Bermerain and Maresches.--A fine success.--Domart and Demobilisation.--Work at Etaples.--Off to Egypt.

While the Battalion harvested the corn behind Nieppe Forest, on the other side of it hue and cry were being raised after the enemy, whose tail was well turned in his last retreat. The Lys salient, which had proved so useless to him, was being evacuated. On the evening of August 20, 1918, the Battalion was ordered forward from Spresiano Camp to occupy the old trenches near Chapelle Boom, a quaint moated farmhouse on the eastern outskirts of the forest. We found the area already overstocked with troops; indeed Chapelle Boom itself, though assigned to us, was the headquarters of not less than two units of the 183rd Infantry Brigade. The arrival of the Battalion, loaded as it was with the encumbrances of advance, further contributed to the congestion. In a few days the Suffolks and Northumberland Fusiliers suddenly disappeared, and Chapelle Boom fell into our power. There we stayed until the Colonel went upon a course.

As usually when the Germans genuinely retired, to use their own phrase, 'according to plan,' early immunity from shells preluded days when the last spite of their artillery was flung as far as possible. Harassing fire against our exits from Nieppe Forest was cleverly manipulated by the enemy. Our guns, which had the choice of few orchards or buildings to screen their flashes, were vigorously searched for when they opened fire. Bonar Farm, Dene Farm, Rennet Farm--places of ill name during the fighting for the Plate Becque--were freely shelled. From the explosion of a chance 4.2 Ellis and several men in D Company were casualties. Whilst in reserve we bathed in the river and for a time resumed our harvesting pursuits. The method became more unique and amateur than ever--we were directed to pluck the ripe ears of corn by hand. I laid down the standard task of one sandbag-full per day per man. Some men used nail-scissors, and it was found that a 'one hour day' was ample to ensure a good 'return.' Soon a pile of bags lay by the roadside. One wonders instinctively what became of the corn and whether it was used.

The word 'return' should set some readers agog. I am sure no battalion had a better Orderly Room than the 2/4th Oxfords. Though only a Company Commander, I was struck by its efficiency when I joined the Battalion. Units were apt to be judged by the promptness and accuracy of their returns, and Cuthbert, who for longer than anyone was Adjutant of the Battalion, won a deserved reputation in this respect. But inside the Battalion as well as out of it his efficiency was understood and valued. Cuthbert was a good instance of an officer without pre-war training whose common-sense and agreeability made him the equal in his work of any Regular. In the office Sergeant Birt had now for two years been a pillar of reliability; few officers or men of the Battalion but owed something to him. Spring 1918 brought an interregnum in the adjutantcy, till R. F. Symonds, formerly of the Bucks, returned from a staff attachment to take the post. Symonds had a remarkable gift for office work. Wrapped up in the routine of the Battalion, he was never happier than in Orderly Room with a full 'basket.' Since the gassing of Headquarters, Shilson, a recently arrived officer with antecedents in the A.S.C., had acted adjutant; right creditably did he acquit himself in the duties suddenly cast upon him. Other new officers were now filling important positions in the Battalion. Faithfull, another disciple from the A.S.C., whom also we got to like very much, was now in command of D Company; Clutsom commanded C, and Young, who had seen long service with the 48th Division, B Company; Jones still led A. Time had wrought changes among the Sergeant-Majors of the Companies. At this period in Cunningham of A, Mudd of B, Smith of C, and Brooks of D, we had a quartet of tried experience. The recurrent conflicts about 'strength'--a word which in effect meant the number of men employed with Quartermaster's Stores and at Headquarters--were now at a high pitch. After much 'camouflage,' by aid of Bicknell, of the real facts, we had reluctantly to choose between the 'return to duty' in the line of either Band or Buglers. The choice was hard, but in the end we kept the Band intact, for loss of a few bandsmen as casualties might leave such gaps as would prevent the Band from playing at all.

On August 24 we relieved the 5th Suffolks in the outpost line, which had remained stationary for several days. It lay upon the eastern fringe of Neuf Berquin, through whose scattered ruins one picked a way to find the posts. Headquarters were some distance back, but most wretchedly accommodated in an orchard close to a lonely brick-stack known as Itchin Farm. The German guns showed marked persistency, not actually against the holes which formed Headquarters, but all around. No area more dismal could be imagined than the flat, dyke-ridden country north of Merville. So thoroughly had our artillery during the last four months plastered the ground behind his former lines that little scope had been left for the retreating frenzy of the enemy. By bombs and shells we had driven the Germans not only from such places as Merville and Neuf Berquin, but from the mere proximity to roads or houses. They had concealed themselves as best they could in ditches and narrow tunnels made with corrugated iron or planks. The 'Huns,' indeed, had been meeting with their deserts. Their life in the Lys salient must have been a nightmare. One required only to read a few of the notices displayed to realise the difference of life behind their line and ours. Everywhere appeared in big letters the word 'Fliegerdeckung!' _i.e._ cover from aircraft. No testimony more eloquent of British superiority could have been offered.

Further behind, round Estaires and La Gorgue, the Germans were busy blowing up and burning ere their retreat ebbed back across the Lys. Black palls of smoke rose daily from where mills and factories were aflame. One day the tall church of Sailly had simply vanished; the next, one looked vainly for Estaires' square tower. Often, when idly scanning the horizon or watching aeroplanes, eyes were arrested by huge jets which sprang into the air to become clouds as large as any in the sky. Combining with this present orgy of destruction numerous booby-traps were left behind, whose action was delayed till our advance should provide victims for their murderous art. Cross-roads and level-crossings especially 'went up,' or were expected to, and so many houses were mined that it became impossible to rest secure in any. In fact, the 182nd Brigade ordered its men out of all buildings. Some measure of vile ingenuity must be accorded to the authors of these booby-traps; but whether bombs under beds or attached to pump handles can be included in legitimate warfare is a case for judgment.

At short notice we attacked from Neuf Berquin on August 28. In some places the advance was quite successful, but in others not. German counter-attacks obliged A Company, which had made good progress south of the Neuf Berquin-Estaires road in the morning, to withdraw its patrols at dusk. A few days later, however, the opposition lessened, and companies went forward several miles. Soon afterwards the 182nd Brigade took turn as the advanced guard, the Lys was reached and crossed, and presently patrols were passing through the old 'posts' and grass-grown breastworks which used to lie behind our front-line system. We followed, and for several days lived in reserve among the scattered farms and houses north of Estaires, over the ruins of which Crosthwaite, an officer of mature service, who had just joined the Battalion, was appointed Town Major. His task was not entirely enviable. Houses, roofless or otherwise, had to be subdivided into safe, doubtful, or certain to 'go up.' I cannot help regarding this Flanders retreat as a subject supremely dull. The constant suspicion of mines and booby-traps rendered doubly sordid the polluted ruins which formed the landmarks of our advance. One feature alone provided interest to some. We were approaching, from an odd direction as it seemed, the old area where the Battalion had first held its trenches. La Gorgue, Estaires, Laventie were places rich in association. How much the two former were altered! La Gorgue, where in 1916 Divisional Headquarters and Railhead had been, was heaped in ugly ruin. Its expensive church had been blown in two. Of Estaires proper little more than its charred walls remained. In such shape was victory passing into our hands.

When the enemy was holding the line Picantin--Junction Post, the Battalion went forward to hold an outpost line north-east of Laventie. On September 10, while he was taking over his new piece of front, Clutsom, of C Company, was badly wounded by a German shell. No officer could have been more regretted. I am glad to say his wound healed steadily and he was soon writing cheerful letters to his friends from England. Command of his company passed to Stanley.

Headquarters now were in the old dressing station at Laventie. It was a house of quite pretentious size, left standing by the enemy. Although its floors were heaped with shavings, prophets of all ranks assigned a violent end to tenants of such a residence. For the next tour we were content to move into Laventie North Post, but all the time the house belied our fears, nor have I evidence that any mine existed. I walked through the village, and I must say it seemed less damaged than I had expected. Most of its buildings were quite recognisable. The house formerly Battalion Headquarters might, with labour, have been made to serve again. The line of small plane trees, which gave Laventie the meretricious semblance of a garden city, was standing yet. In the war's passage over it Laventie suffered less havoc than had seemed probable.

At a few hours' notice and in weather calculated to make any operation a fiasco, the Battalion on September 12 attacked Junction Post, a grass-bound breastwork where the enemy was offering a stubborn resistance. Though finally unsuccessful in result, the fighting, which was accompanied by driving storms of rain, produced two noteworthy incidents. Rowlerson, one of C Company's platoon commanders, after reaching the German trenches, somehow lost touch and was captured with several of his men. In A Company an exploit was performed, which gained for the Battalion its second Victoria Cross. Lance-Corporal Wilcox came to close quarters with some enemy defending a piece of trench with four machine-guns. Each of these guns Lance-Corporal Wilcox, followed by his section, successively captured or put out of action. Wilcox was shortly afterwards wounded and was in hospital in England when news of the award arrived. His deed lent lustre to a profitless attack.

A few days later the Battalion was relieved and spent a period in reserve among fields and orchards west of Sailly-sur-la-Lys. We suffered much from the night long attention of the German 'pip-squeak' guns, whose range, longer considerably than that of the English 18-pounder, was made fullest use of by the enemy. A move came as a welcome surprise. Under mysterious directions the Battalion was ordered back as far as Linghem, a village I have mentioned before as lying south of Aire. Arrived there, we were placed in some huts, destined for eventual occupation by the XI Corps school. More than a day elapsed before the object of our visit was explained: the Battalion was to sweep and clean the camp for its inspection by the Corps Commander. We were not present at the ceremony, but for a week preceding it all four companies were daily engaged weeding potato patches, tarring roofs, and evacuating a dump of several hundred thousand empty tins. Rarely were the energies of an Infantry Battalion more curiously devoted.

At Laventie no startling events had filled our absence. But after our return--Junction Post had not yet fallen, so that the outpost line was still in front of Rouge de Bout--developments began. On September 30 the enemy lost Junction Post to a spirited attack by the Gloucesters, the line that he had been holding for three weeks was broken, and his retreat became fast and general. After relieving the Gloucesters our companies were hard put to it to advance rapidly enough to keep touch. At last we stood upon the Aubers Ridge itself. Lille was almost in view; but at this point the Division was relieved by the 59th and sent southwards to join our armies before Cambrai, where the final issue between British and German arms was destined to be decided.

Out of the closing phases of the war I feel there must be material from which historians will find that climax which so grand a conflict deserves as its termination. But I confess that I find scarcely any.

After its dramatic and sinister opening the war seemed almost belittled by its tame conclusion. Years of nerve-racking experiences, the hardships, and the immutable association which towns like Ypres, Arras and Albert, and the trench-dwellings of Flanders and the Somme possessed, had indisposed the mind to receive new impressions from the last battle of the war. Patient from a hundred moves from trench to billet, from billet to trench, the British soldier accepted with characteristic resignation moves which were sweeping him to Victory. By gas, liquid fire, night-flying aeroplanes, and long-range artillery, the war had in four years demonstrated the incredible. The mere collapse, on one side, of the agencies military and political which lay behind, was in itself commonplace.

The Battalion joined the XVII Corps half way through October, 1918, and was soon put into important fighting. The enemy, who had lost Lille, Douai, and St. Quentin early in the month, was now in full retreat between Verdun and the sea. To preserve his centre from being pierced and his flanks rolled up, rear-guards eastward of Cambrai were offering the maximum resistance. Most villages, though they passed into our hands nearly intact and in some cases full of civilians, had to be fought for. The German machine-gunners rarely belied their character of fighting to the end. In an attack on October 24 from Haussy, the Battalion, advancing rapidly in artillery formation, captured the high ground east of Bermerain; and the next day B and D Companies (the latter now commanded by Cupper) again attacked, and captured the railway south-east of Sepmeries. For these operations the weather was fine, the ground dry, and the leadership excellent. A period followed in reserve at Vendegies and afterwards at Bermerain, villages which were liberally bombarded by the German long-range guns. Moving up again on November 2, the Battalion made its last attack of the war. A fine success resulted. The objectives--St. Hubert and the ridge east of it--were captured, together with 700 prisoners, 40 machine-guns, and 4 tanks, recently used by the enemy in a counter-attack. The fruits of this victory were well deserved by the Battalion, the more because so often in the course of the war it had been set to fight against odds in secondary operations. It was a good wind-up.

Of some battalions it was said that on November 11, 1918 they found themselves standing within a mile or two of where they first went into action in 1914. We, naturally, could claim no such coincidence; yet a dramatic touch was not wanting when the telegram, which bore the news of the cessation of hostilities, was read out by the Colonel to a parade formed up at Maresches upon the very ground whence the Battalion had started in its last attack.

The Battalion was never in the Army on the Rhine. After time spent at Cambrai we travelled back to Domart, a village mid-way between Amiens and Abbeville. In duration the journey surpassed all records. Three days we spent impatiently waiting for a train, and two more patiently waiting in the train itself; and we arrived at the destination faced with a ten-mile march in rain and pitch darkness. Happily the war was still sufficiently recent for such delay to pass as comedy. At Domart the one real topic was Demobilisation. I could set myself no harder task than a description of the workings of this engine. Few people understood how they were themselves demobilised, and fewer cared how others were. That the scheme worked on the whole well and justly was in great measure due to Symonds, whose zealous energy, though the Battalion was lessoning daily, never flagged. For two months Battalion drill and the 'Education Scheme' occupied our mornings, football our afternoons. Christmas was a great festival. The 'Frolics' pantomime visited the village, in which the Battalion pioneers, under the direction of Cameron, the Brigade signalling officer, had transformed an empty building into a capital theatre. General Thorne, who had so successfully commanded the 184th Infantry Brigade in its last battle, was unstinting in his efforts to give the men's life in the army a happy and useful conclusion. He secured visits from all the best concert parties and raised a fund to finance the department of Brigade entertainments, of which Nicholas, the Brigade Major, was chief minister. A weekly magazine was started, which ran to its fourth number. Truly the arts flourished.

In a windy field south of the village the Battalion was in January presented with its colour by Major-General Duncan. The occasion passed off well. Its feature was the admirable speech made by the Colonel.

In February the Battalion, which it was known would be made up with drafts and retained for service as a unit, was sent to Etaples to assist in the Demobilisation scheme. For a month we remained meeting trains, escorting parties to camps, sorting clothing, and driving herds of the demobilised through the intricacies of a machine called the 'Delouser,' until the arriving trainloads decreased, dwindled, and finally stopped. In March several large drafts of officers and men, to replace all those who had been, or would be, demobilised, joined the Battalion, which, after a pause at Le Tréport and some leave, sailed for Egypt. Thither my story does not follow it. When peace was signed, the cadre of the Battalion had not returned to Oxford. On Christmas Dav 1919 the 2/4th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry was still serving overseas.

COMPOSITION OF THE BATTALION ON GOING OVERSEAS

_Headquarters._

Colonel W. H. Ames, T. D. Major G. P. R. Beaman, 2nd in Command. Major D. M. Rose, Adjutant. Lieut. C. S. W. Marcon, Signalling Officer. 2/Lieut. H. E. Coombes, Intelligence Officer. Lieut. G. H. G. Shepherd, Machine-gun Officer. Lieut. R. L. Abraham, Transport Officer. Lieut. W. A. Hobbs, Quartermaster. Captain A. Worsley, Medical Officer.

_Company Commanders._

Captain H. J. Bennett, A Company. Captain H. N. Davenport, B Company. Captain A. H. Brucker, C Company. Captain R. F. Cuthbert, D Company.

_Regimental Sergeant-Major._

T. V. Wood.

_Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant._

W. C. Hedges.

_Company Sergeant-Majors._

C. A. Witney, A Company. A. Ball, B Company. W. F. Campion, C Company. W. Douglas, D Company.

COMPOSITION OF THE BATTALION AT THE ARMISTICE

_Headquarters._

Lieut.-Colonel E. M. Woulfe-Flanagan, C.M.G., D.S.O. Major G. K. Rose, M.C., 2nd in Command. Captain R. F. Symonds, Adjutant. Lieut. T. S. R. Boase, M.C., Signalling Officer. Lieut. W. A. F. Hearne, Intelligence Officer. Captain J. W. Shilson, Assistant Adjutant. Lieut. G. W. Woodford, M.C., Transport Officer. Captain W. G. Murray, Quartermaster. Lieut. E. P. Neary (U.S.), Medical Officer.

_Company Commanders._

Captain H. Jones, M.C., A Company. Captain R. E. M. Young, B Company. Captain J. Stanley, M.C., C Company. Captain J. H. D. Faithfull, D Company.

_Regimental Sergeant-Major._

W. Hedley, D. C. M.

_Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant._

W. C. Hedges.

_Company Sergeant-Majors._

C. R. Holder, A Company. A. J. Mudd, B Company. S. Smith, D.C.M., C Company. M. T. Brooks, D Company.

INDEX

Ablaincourt, 55, 56, 75. Abraham, Capt. R. L., 14, 80, 157, 172, 175, 193. Aire, 194, 195, 201. Aitken, Lieut. R., 85, 86. Albert, 23. Allden, Lieut. J. H., 84, 100, 101. Ames, Col. W. H., 7, 13. Amiens, 104, 174. A.S.C., 43, 45, 132, 192. Arras, 107, 111, 144. Arrowsmith, Rev. W. L., M.C., 106. Asylum, St. Venant, 188, 189. Athies, 79. Auxi-le-Château, 111, 112. Aveluy, 35. Avesne, 174-176.

Band, the, 200, 211. Baquerolle Farm, 181, 183, 186, 189, 191, 196. Barnes, Lance-Corpl., 109. Barton, Lieut. C. J., 14, 86. Bassett, Col.-Sgt., 1. Baxter, Pte., 137, 139. Beaman, Maj. G. P. R., 14, 66. Beauvoir Line, 163-165. Beechey, C.Q.-M.S., 193. Bellamy, Lt.-Col. R., D.S.O., 14, 30, 43, 51, 104. Bennett, Lieut. A. E. G., 199. Bennett, Maj. H. J., M.C., 14, 15, 23, 43, 86, 92, 145, 164-170. Berks, 2/4th Royal, 25, 35, 51, 55, 66, 77, 98, 102, 122, 124, 161, 163, 169, 170, 181, 204. Bermerain, 218. Bernaville, 111. Bicknell, Capt. A., M.C., 34, 152, 211. Birt, Sgt. J. W., 190, 210. Boase, Lieut. T. S. R., M.C., 175, 182, 186. Boyle, Lt.-Col. C. R. C., D.S.O., 187. Brigade, 182nd Inf., 78, 85, 87, 160, 198, 213. -------- 183rd Inf., 126, 169, 208. Brazier, Sgt., 194, 198. Brooks, C.S.M. E., V.C., 34, 64, 66, 101, 117. Brooks, Sgt. M. T., 194, 211. Broomfield, 4. Brown, Capt. K. E., M.C., 14, 23, 38, 40, 51, 56, 85, 117, 119, 132, 159, 171. Broxeele, 114. Brucamps, 49. Brucker, Capt. A. H., 14, 117, 124. Bucks, 2/1st, 35, 79, 81, 94, 125, 135, 158, 174, 175. Buggins, Father, 79. Buller, Sgt., 109. Butcher, Sgt., M. M., 101. Buttfield, Capt. L. F., M.C., 175, 182.

Cairns, C.S.M. J., D.C.M., 124, 125, 172. Callender, Lieut. J. C., 14, 117, 119, 124. Calonne, 177, 179-183, 204. Calonne Road, 19, 183, 186, 190, 196. Cambrai, 217, 219. Cameron, Bde. Signalling Officer, 219. Canteen, the, 189, 190. Carvin, 179, 191, 196. Caulaincourt, 81, 86. Cepy Farm, 94, 102, 160. Chapelle Boom, 209. Chaulnes, 49, 56, 60, 78, 79. Chemical Works, 142, 149. Chili Avenue, 143. Chocques, 174, 177. Christie-Miller, Lieut.-Col. G., D.S.O., M.C., 197. Christmas Day, 41, 155, 219, 220. Clarence River, 179, 191. Clutsom, Capt. C. R., 175, 197, 211, 214. Coles, Corpl., 63, 66. Collett, Sgt., 30. Connell, Bugler, 190. Contay Wood, 22. Copinger, Lieut. J. P., 117, 140. Coombes, Lieut. H. K., 117, 194. Coucher, Lieut. G. W., 186. Craddock, Lieut., 170. Crosthwaite, Capt. H. T., 213. Cubbage, Lieut., 197, 203. Cunningham, C.S.M., 211. Cunningham, Lieut. J. C., 159, 162. Cupper, Lieut. H. J., 218. Cuthbert, Capt. R. F., M.C., 14, 30, 51, 63, 149, 210.

Davenport, Capt. H. N., M.C., 7, 9, 14, 38, 75, 166, 168. Davies, Pte. A. H., 137. Dawson-Smith, Lieut. C. F., 117. D.C.L.I., 1 5th, 34, 36, 166, 179. Deniécourt, 51. Desire Trench, 25, 26, 38. Dimmer, Lt.-Col. J. S., V.C., 168. Division, 4th, 183, 188. 5th, 201. 15th, 122, 126, 144. 17th, 143. 20th, 166, 168, 175. 32nd, 55, 90. 48th, 122, 124, 126. 51st, 177, 179. 59th, 84, 85, 217. Domart, 219. Douglas, R.S.M.W., 14, 172. Doullens, 174, 177. Dugan, Br.-Gen. W. J., C.M.G., D.S.O., 14. Duncan, Maj.-Gen. F. J., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., 207, 220.

Ellis, Lieut., 210. Enghien Redoubt, 160, 162, 165. Estaires, 17, 212-214. Etaples, 220.

Fabick Trench, 23. Faithfull, Capt. J. H. D., 211. Fauquissart, 10. Fayet, 90, 94, 96, 98, 157, 158, 160-163, 171. Field Trench, 36, 37. Foreshew, Capt. C. E. P., M.C., 159. Framerville, 76, 80. Freudemacher, C.Q.-M.S., 193. 'Frolics,' the, 198, 219. Fry, Lieut., 61.

Gas, 114, 128, 136, 150, 203. Gascoyne, Lieut., 117, 124. Gepp, Bde.-Maj., 33, 148, 149. Gloucester Farm, 19, 191. Gloucesters, 2/5th, 15, 35, 84, 85, 90, 162, 163, 169, 170, 183, 184, 187, 188, 204, 216. Goldfish Château, 120, 125-127. Gonnelieu, 153, 154. Goodman, Lance-Cpl., 140. Gouzeaucourt, 152, 153. Grandcourt, 24, 28. Greenland Hill, 105, 149. Guest, Lieut. H. R., M.C., 117, 125, 140. Guildford, Lieut., 64.

Ham, 166, 168. Hangest, 176. Harbonnières, 49. Harling, Major R. W., 34. Harris, Capt. H. T. T., 117. Hall, Pte., D.C.M., 151. Haussy, 218. Havrincourt Wood, 154. Hawkes, Lieut. T. W. P., 117. Hazebrouck, 177, 195, 200. Hedauville, 30, 33, 34, 43. Hedges, R.Q.M.S. W. C., 14. Hedley, R.S.M. W., D.C.M., 175, 203. Herbert, Lieut. S. E., 109. Hessian Trench, 30, 37, 38, 40. Hill, Lieut. T. A., 117. Hill 35, 131-140. Hinton, Sgt., M.M. 15. Hobbs, Capt. (Q.-M.) W. A., 14, 21, 45, 159. Holder, C.Q.-M.S. C. R., 193. Holnon, 90, 91, 102, 157, 159, 162, 163. Hombleux, 88, 166. Howland, Sgt., 1. Howitt, Capt. (Bde.-Maj.) H. G., D.S.O., M.C., 148, 169, 178. Hunt, Lieut. C. B., 25, 29, 64, 65.

Infantry Hill, 105. Isbergues, 177, 194. Itchin Farm, 212.

Jones, Capt. H., M.C., 44, 100, 101, 117, 162, 171, 172, 211. July 19th, 1916, Operations of, 12, 13. Junction Post, 214-216.

Kemp, Lieut. S. F., M.C. 175, 186. Kilby. Sergt., 100, 101. Kirk, Lieut. J., 175, 193, 198, 203. Kettle, Sgt., 190.

La Gorgue, 10, 212, 214. La Lacque, 194. La Motte, 169-171. La Pierre au Beurre, 185, 188. La Pierrière, 189, 197-199. Languevoisin, 164, 165. Laventie, 8, 10, 176, 214-216. Lawson, Lt.-Col. A. B., D.S.O., 163, 169, 188, 191. Leatherbarrow, Sergt. J., 98, 101, 117. Les Amusoires, 179, 181, 182, 196. Les Fosses Farm, 107. Le Vergier, 84, 85. Liettres, 199. Lindsey, Lieut., 109. Linghem, 198, 216. Lodge, 2/Lt. T., M.C., 175, 181, 186, 187, 189. Loewe, Lieut. L. L., 43. Longford, Pte., 26, 66. Longley, Pte., 66. Lyon, Lieut., 44. Lys River, 176, 212, 213.

Mackenzie, Maj.-Gen. Sir Colin, K.C.B., 49, 165, 195. Maison Ponthieu, 42, 45, 49. Maissemy, 81, 90, 163. Marcelçave, 49, 169, 170. Marchélepot, 56, 60, 79. Marcon, Capt. C. S. W., 57. Maresches, 219. Martinsart Wood, 31, 33, 34. Matthews, Capt. C. S., 117, 159. Merville, 8, 10, 17, 176, 177, 179, 182, 188, 201, 204, 212. Miller, Capt. J. G. R., 186. Moated Grange, 17. Moberly, Capt. W. H., D.S.O., 9, 117, 125, 150, 151, 165, 166, 172. Monchy-le-Preux, 105, 106. Montolu Wood, 81, 86. Monument, at Fayet, 90, 171. Moorat, 23. Moore, Capt. (Bde.-Maj.), L. G., D.S.O., 92, 93, 98. Moore, Col.-Sgt., 1. Mouquet Farm, 23, 35, 36. Moss, C.S.M., 188. Mowby, Sergt. W., 100. Mudd, C.S.M. A. J., 211. Muir, Lt.-Col. J. B., D.S.O., 158. Murray, Capt. (Q.M.) W. G., 159, 172, 175, 193, 197.

Nesle, 168, 169, 175. Neuf Berquin, 201, 204, 211-213. Neuve Chapelle, 10. Neuvillette, 20, 104. Nicholas, Bde.-Maj., 220. Nieppe Forest, 177, 178, 201-206, 209. Noc River, 20, 179, 181, 198. Noeux, 111, 112. Northampton, 3.

O'Connor, Lance-Cpl., 100. O'Meara, Lieut. R. A., M.C., 155, 185. Offoy, 165, 166. Omignon River, 79, 84. Orderly Room, 210, 211. Oxford, Battalion billeted in colleges, 2. Oxfords, 6th, 159, 187.

Pagan, Brig.-Gen. A. W., D.S.O., 176, 183, 196, 198. Palmer, Sgt., 117, 137. Parkhouse Camp, 6. Parsons, Sgt., 43. Patrols, 29, 40. Plate Becque, 201, 204, 210. Pond Farm, 122, 124, 125. Ponne Copse, 86. Poperinghe, 115, 119. Portuguese, 177, 178, 187, 194. P.U.O., 197. Pym, Bde.-Maj., 33.

Raid, at Ablaincourt (by enemy), 58, 63, 64. by A Coy., 15. by B Coy., 9. by C Coy., 191. by D Coy., 92. Rainecourt, 49, 77. Ravenscroft, Sgt., D.C.M., 201. Regina Dug-out, 26. Regina Trench, 25, 27, 30, 38. Riez Bailleul, 17, 19. Robecq, 19, 20, 177-184, 187, 188, 196. Roberts, Pte., 66. Robinson, Capt. A. J., 14, 23, 25, 38, 51, 56, 160, 171, 189, 191. Rockall, Corpl., 29, 61. Rose, Maj. D. M., 14. Rowbotham, Capt. G. V., M.C., 159, 160. Rowbotham, Lance-Cpl., 66, 137, 139, 140. Rowlerson, Lieut. G. A., M.C., 191, 215. Ruthven, Maj. W. L., 43.

Sailly-sur-la-Lys, 212, 216. St. Hilaire, 199, 200. St. Hubert, 218. St. Omer, 195. St. Pol, 174, 177. St. Quentin, 82, 87, 89, 90, 103. St. Venant, 176, 178, 181, 183, 187, 196. Schuler Farm, 122. Scott, Lieut. W. D., 7, 117, 119, 124. Selency, 90, 160, 162. Sepmeries, 218. Shields, Capt. (M.O.), 197. Shilson, Capt. J. W., 211. Short, Pte., 66. Sloper, Sgt., M. M., 101, 117. Smith, Pte., 66. Smith, C.S.M. S., D.C.M., 211. Soyécourt, 81, 82. Spresiano Camp, 204. Stanley, Capt. J., M.C., 185, 188, 215. Stobie, Capt. W., O.B.E., 26, 79, 106, 169. Stockton, Capt. J. G., 7, 23, 43, 51, 84, 117, 124. Suffolks, 5th, 209, 211. Sunken Road (Fayet), 90, 94, 96, 161. Suzanne, 155, 156. Symonds, Capt. R. F., 203, 210, 219.

Taylor, Lieut., 97, 100, 101. Taylor, C.Q.-M.S., 193. Tertry, 81. Thomas, 'Benny,' 144, 159. Thompson, Pte., 66. Thorne, Brig.-Gen. A. F. A. N., C.M.G., D.S.O., 219. Tiddy, Lieut. R. J. E., 7, 15. Tilly, Lieut., 86. Timms, Pte., 25, 63, 66. Transport, the, 192-194. Tremellen, Lance-Cpl., 75. Tripp's Farm, 196. Tubbs, Capt. A., 94. Tullock's Corner, 36.

Ugny, 159, 164, 165. Uzzell, Lance-Cpl., 64.

Vendegies, 218. Verlaines, 166, 168. Vermandovillers, 77, 79. Viggers, Corpl., 76, 97, 140. Villers Bretonneux, 169, 171. Vlamertinghe, 120. Voyennes, 165, 166.

Waldon, Col.-Sgt., 1. Wallington, Lieut. C. H., M.C., 151, 160. Warwircks, 2 6th, 179. 2 7th, 181. Watkins, Sgt., 82, 84. Wayte, Lieut. J. P., M.C., 85, 86. Webb, Lieut. E. S. F., 117. Weller, Lieut. B. O., 157. Wetherall, Lieut.-Col. H. de R., D.S.O., M.C., 104, 111, 132, 150, 187, 196, 203, 204. White, Brig.-Gen. the Hon. R., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., 15, 39, 48, 93, 112, 121, 145-148, 163, 165. Wilcox, Lance-Cpl. A., V.C., 215. Wieltje, 132, 134. Williams, Col.-Sergt., 1. Willink, Capt. G. O. W., M.C., 169. Wiltshire, Lieut. G. H., 149. Winchester Post, 10. Winnipeg, 122. Wise, Lance-Cpl., 140. Wood. R.S.M. T. V., 1. Woodford, Lieut. G. W., M.C., 193. Woulfe-Flanagan, Lt.-Col. E. M., C.M.G., D.S.O., 203, 220. Wright, Bugler, 66. Writtle, 4.

Young, Capt. R. E. M., 211. Ypres, 58, 119, 120.

Zeder, Lieut. J. H., D.C.M., 7, 9. Zollern Redoubt, 36, 38.

HOLYWELL PRESS, OXFORD.

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Transcriber's note:

Page 94: The word "and" has been added in the sentence "The attack was ably dealt with by Tubbs' company of the Bucks-and-had proved abortive for the enemy".

Page 109: "Another development which was destined to play an ever increasing part in the war and to make its closing phases worse in some respects that its early, was the long-range high-velocity gun." The word "that" has been changed to "than".